Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Leave What Must Be Left
Monday, May 30, 2011
Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Dearest Swami ...
Dearest Swami,
I looked into my heart this morning to see whether You were there and you looked back at me, a smile on Your face.
“Dear Lord,” I said. “What would You have me do today?”
You replied, “See with the eyes of Love, hear with the ears of Love, work with the hands of Love, think thoughts of Love, feel Love in every nerve. See God in everyone you meet, see God in everything you handle.”
“This is going to be a little difficult, dear Lord,” I said. “But I will try and if I should fall, please pick me up and let me start anew with your unbounded love and guidance.”
Oh how I love You, Lord of my heart!
~ Divine Blossoms ~
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Be a Buddha
Friday, May 27, 2011
Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba
You are the Divine in Human Form
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Dining with the Beloved
The gentle early springtime sun brought everything to life in the Anza Borrego desert scene in Southern California. Bright little flowers formed a carpet of color, as though awaiting the Blue Lotus Feet of our Lord to be a soft cushion. How sprightly were the small birds, as they sprang from one branch to another, with full awareness of their freedom! All of this wonderland was covered with a delicate blue sky that played hide and seek with the surrounding mountains.
While enthralled with all of this nature scented with desert perfumes, I seemed to nave a question filtering through my mind, as to whether or not I would bathe in the placidly clear waters of my friend's swimming pool. Then, I found myself almost unthinkingly turning away from the pool area and entering the precincts of the quiet cool house. I could see the pool reflecting the sky, through the large plate glass windows.
It was then I felt the meditative heartstrings enticing me from within. I had no sooner started the inward journey when Baba began to talk to me. It is His message which I would like to share with you now.
"Bathe in the water pool, for, is it not Ganga water? That water out there, too, is from God. Why should one differentiate as to one water's spiritual benefit from that of another body of water?
Bathe with a divine feeling of receiving an inner purification for the water thus used is being blessed by Me. Remember that all water used to cleanse the temple of the soul is holy water. It can draw you closer to Me wherever you are, just as mother Ganges has done from age to age. Does not all water come down from the `Himalayas of the Heavens', from whence all purity originates? How much more comforting it is to know that one can always bathe in the bliss of the Lord! I bathe the silver image of Sai Baba of Shirdi with a downfall of Divine Ash which pours right from My Heart. I do that ceremony with great joy and love. Should not all have that same loving attitude toward their living temples whether they are bathing it, giving it food or simply being good to it?
There was something extraordinary about the pool as I entered it. The water seemed to come alive as it carried out its divine purpose. The Lord appeared present in the form of colorful mountains. The feeling within was so beautiful. It felt like the angels in heaven had been asked by the Lord to witness the spiritual merging and emerging. Baba's words came true, for the blessings from my experience in "Mother Ganges" have stayed with me.
Since that sweet encounter with the Lord. I have discovered how much His presence exists when breaking bread with Him at the table. There now seems to be less hurry. Why try to end quickly dining with my Beloved?
Now, I look back and ask myself why I waited so long in this body temple to open my heart to His Heart. May we live ever closer to Him as the sands of time run out.
~ Charles Penn ~
(Sai Spiritual Showers - Vol.2 Issue 95)
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Discipline
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Easiest Spiritual Path
Monday, May 23, 2011
Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba
Chanting the Lord's Name
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Be Human
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Remember Him
The Pandavas during the time of their exile once walked into the forest of Romarishi. Romarishi was a sage whose body was covered with hair and his beard was so long that it spread like a carpet into the entire area of the forest.
There was a sacred tree in that forest yielding a very special type of fruit which, once tasted by a person, would relieve him of hunger and thirst for years and years. But the fruit was not to be plucked, it was to be eaten only when it fell down on its own.
One day Dharmaraja and Draupadi chanced to come near the tree. Draupadi was very much tempted to taste that luscious big fruit hanging from the tree. She said: "Can we not take that fruit? We can all share it." Dharmaraja shot an arrow and the fruit fell on the ground. He went to take the fruit with his hand. It was so heavy that he could not move it. Dharmaraja tried to lift it with all his strength using both his hands but he could not lift it. Draupadi also tried but in vain.
In the meantime, Arjuna arrived at that place. He tried to lift the fruit but could not succeed. All the three tried to lift the fruit but it would not move. The two younger brothers came and tried to lift the fruit but they too could not succeed.
Finally came the mighty hero, Bhima. He asked the others to keep away and said: "I will lift it." But even Bhima failed.
Meanwhile the hair of Romarishi which had spread all over the area, began to stir because when these six people were trampling about to lift the fruit, the strands of hair were being trodden and pulled. He realised that some one must be trying to steal the fruit. He had become furious. His long hairs started coming together and coiling round the Pandavas to tie them up.
Draupadi realised the danger and immediately prayed to Lord Krishna. Krishna appeared before them. Draupadi fell at his feet and prayed to Him for help. Krishna said: "Sister, I am helpless. Romarishi is a great sage. I reside in his heart. How can I do anything against the wishes of my devotees?"
Draupadi once again pleaded: "You alone can save us, you can do anything if you wish to." Krishna said: "I will help you, but all of you should be totally silent whatever may be the situation and do exactly as I tell you." Draupadi and Pandavas promised to obey his orders. Krishna went towards Romarishi's ashram and instructed them to follow him after sometime.
It is difficult to understand the ways of the Divine. All that we can do is to always remember Him with love and pray with faith for His matchless grace.
(Chinna Katha from Baba)
Friday, May 20, 2011
Writing the Name of the Lord
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
God Will Not Give Up Devotees
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Body Attachment
"Kasturi once urged Me not to neglect this body in the process of saving a devotee. I replied, “This body has come for the sake of devotees and shall be utilised for doing anything and everything for their welfare.”
Body attachment is human and total detachment is divine. Attachment to the body is responsible for all suffering and misery. Since God does not have any body attachment He does not attach any importance to the suffering of His body. Once He assumes a body, many things are bound to happen to the body. Whatever happens is for the welfare of the whole world."
~ Baba ~
(Divine Discourse -14.1.99)
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Buddha Poornima - 17th May 2011
"Buddha's emphasis was entirely on purity in every aspect of daily life. Purity in vision, purity in thought, purity in speech and purity in action. He considered the spirit of sacrifice as true yajna. Sacrifice is the means for attaining Nirvaana (freedom from the bondage of mundane existence).
Buddha was totally opposed to anyone being forced to lead a worldly life against his will. When Buddha was going round begging for alms as a mendicant, his father, Shuddhodhana, called him and said: "Son! Why are you going about as a beggar? I am a king and you are leading the life of a beggar. This is not proper at all."
Buddha taught his message in this way to his father, wife and son."
~ Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 15.5.97)
Thus Spoke Lord Buddha
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Swami, My Protector
Towards the end of last year, I received a few emails with prophecies about the end of the world coming in the year 2012. The catastrophes that were predicted were too horrible for words and hopefully, they will not come true! As I was reflecting on all that I had read, I suddenly thought, “Swami will still be with us, why worry?” Yes, Swami would be our protector, guardian angel, saviour. Should anything happen, I could run to Puttaparthi and take refuge in Swami’s ashram where I would be safe and sound!
So when news of Swami’s passing away came, I was shattered. Our protector was no longer with us! Who could I run to now? Like many other devotees, I wept for days. It was particularly painful to see pictures of His mortal remains. I didn’t have the heart or courage to follow any of the live telecasts of His funeral. I cried every time I saw pictures of His “last Namaskar”.
As a yearly visitor to Prashanti Nilayam, I had become very attached to Swami’s physical form and often forgot to see Him beyond that. All my visits had in fact made me quite selfish. When Swami did not appear for darshan, all I could think of was “Swami, why didn’t You come? We have been waiting for hours to see You.” In my disappointment, I thought and behaved like a spoilt child. I had forgotten about His omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence. I had forgotten that it was He who had “invited” me to Puttaparthi in the first place; it was He who had enriched my life with His priceless love and compassion. I had a lot to be grateful for!
It has taken me some time to regain my perspective of things and to re-think the many things Swami has often talked about in His discourses. Swami has been giving discourses as far back as 1953, so you can imagine the tons of wisdom He has imparted to us. And being the sweet Lord that He is, He sometimes even apologises for “inconveniencing” us if He gives a long discourse!
The only way we can repay Him now for all that He has given us, is to practise His teachings … forget about all else ... just do His work.
My humble prayer is that He will grant me more wisdom with each passing day.
“You are not the body, you are embodiments of the Atma. The physical body comes and goes. The body only has suffering, not the Atma.” ~ Baba
~ Divine Blossoms ~
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Gold Plate
One day in the sacred shrine of Lord Viswanath at Kasi, all the devotees and temple priests were immersed in singing hymns and reciting chants. All of a sudden, they heard a metallic sound. When they turned their heads in that direction, they saw a shining gold plate on the floor of the shrine. It must have fallen through an open space in the center of the hall from the sky leading to the sanctum sanctorum.
All of them gathered round with wonder, while the chief temple priest went close to examine it. He found some letters inscribed on it. "This belongs to my dear devotee". The priest read the inscription loudly. All the temple priests vied with one another to snatch the plate with the feeling, "Who could be a greater devotee than myself. I spend my time, talent and strength only to offer worship to the Lord Viswanath." But the plate changed into an earthen one the moment they touched it one after another.
News spread like wild fire about the golden plate. Several scholars, singers, poets and preachers came and tried their luck but in vain. Days, weeks and months rolled on but the plate remained there without a claimant.
One day, a stranger came to the temple. He stood at the entrance and tears gathered in his eyes when he saw beggars, blind, dumb and lame piteously pleading for alms. He felt ashamed of his inability to relieve them of their hunger and agony. He wanted to pray to the Lord and so stepped into the temple. He saw people gathered round and discussing something. He tried to squeeze himself into the crowd to find out why they were standing there. He saw a golden plate in the center of that enclosure. He enquired and was told about the episode of the golden plate. He was rather surprised and sad at the attitude of the people and the priests. Instead of praying to the Lord of the Universe and trying to possess Him, they were eager to possess the golden plate.
Observing his nonchalant attitude, the high priest requested him to try his hand. The stranger replied: "Oh Revered one! I do not care for either gold or silver, what I long for is God's Grace." The priest's esteem for that man increased. So he once again pressed him, "At least to satisfy us, please try your hand."
The stranger touched the plate without a trace of attachment. Lo! It shone forth with redoubled effulgence. All the priests gathered round and queried: "Sir, where do you come from? What are your qualifications? What are the branches of learning you have mastered? How many years did you do penance?" The stranger replied calmly: "I don't belong to any place. I just manage to earn my bread by hard labor. The only sadhana I do is Namasmaran [repeating the name of the Lord]. This has perhaps rendered my heart pure and filled it with love and compassion. It has enabled me to control my mind and the senses. I have not read any book or mastered any science. The only art I know of is chanting the Name Divine. The only act I do is to be kind to the poor."
So, the only qualification to become dear to the Lord is to acquire a compassionate heart and sense control. These two can be acquired through Namasmaran with full faith in the Lord.
(Chinna Katha from Baba)
Monday, May 9, 2011
Surrender
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba
"The body is a den of filth,
Friday, May 6, 2011
Eswaramma Day - 6th May 2011
Namaskar
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Contemplation of the Omnipresent Lord
"For establishing oneself in the contemplation of the Omnipresent Lord, there are no limitations of time or space. There is nothing like a special time or a holy place. Wherever the mind revels in the contemplation of the Divine, that becomes the holy place. Whenever the mind meditates on the Lord, that becomes the most auspicious moment.
The world can achieve prosperity through disciplined souls whose hearts are pure and who represent the salt of the earth. Everyone, from this very moment, should pray for the advent of such holy souls, try to deserve the blessings of the great, endeavour to forget one’s sufferings and promote the welfare of the world".
~ Baba ~
(Prema Vahini, "The Qualities a Sadhaka should cultivate").